Monday, April 27, 2009

Day Trip to the Murgia, 2

The Murgia area of Apulia is a high tableland with two distinct patterns of vegetation. The area we hiked through on Saturday is green and rich in a wide variety of plants, thanks in part to the abundant rains we have had this year. The other area of the Murgia is practically barren with only scrub brush and the occasional tree.
The top photo shows the point at which we started our hike.
Each of us had our own walking stick, not so much because the terrain was difficult, but to chase off any snakes we might have run into...luckily, we didn't meet up with any snakes at all! The stone structure in the background here is an abandoned farmhouse.

A great deal of the Murgia is active farmland and the bright green field in this photo is a crop of new wheat.
What looks like a pile of stones is actually a falling down trullo house. You can see the ancient stone walls used to create terracing for crops on the far hill.

This is another vast field of new wheat nestled between the woods and an uncultivated hill covered with the the wild plants native to the area.

8 comments:

VP said...

What a contrast between the last two images: one of abandon and decay, the other of untouched green grass.

Julie said...

Thank you for visiting our Strangers blog and for your kind words. I think it would be wonderful to see photographs of "strange" Italians!

Anonymous said...

This looks like beautiful countryside to live in and to hike in. Nice photographs.

The Hamlet of Gordon

Tinsie said...

Beautiful photos, esp. the last one! Personally, I'd be too scared of the snakes...

nobu said...

Wonderful place,rich in nature.
And beautiful broad view.

Lois said...

What a lovely place! I may have to get one of those sticks since I have had two snakes in my yard just in the last week.

Marcel said...

That looks like it has been a fun trip! Great to walk through the awakening nature!

Cheers frmo Marcel

Greg Dimitriadis said...

Very nice landscapes!